Job 22
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answers and says:
U-Elifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
2 “Is a man profitable to God, Because a wise man is profitable to himself?
“Umuntu angasiza uNkulunkulu na? Lesihlakaniphi uqobo kambe singamsiza na?
3 Is it a delight to the Mighty One That you are righteous? Is it gain, That you make your ways perfect?
Bekungamupha ntokozo bani uSomandla ukulunga kwakho na? Ubengazuzani ngabe kuthiwa kawulasici na?
4 Because of your reverence Does He reason [with] you? He enters with you into judgment:
Yikumesaba kwakho yini akukhuzela khona lakwethesela khona amacala na?
5 Is your wickedness not abundant? And there is no end to your iniquities.
Kabubukhulu ububi bakho na? Lezono zakho angithi kazipheli na?
6 For you take a pledge of your brother for nothing, And you strip off the garments of the naked.
Wawubiza isibambiso kubafowenu kungelasizatho; uhlubula abantu izigqoko zabo basale beze.
7 You do not cause the weary to drink water, And you withhold bread from the hungry.
Abakhatheleyo wawubancitsha amanzi, abalambileyo ungabaphi ukudla,
8 As for the man of arm—he has the earth, And the accepted of face—he dwells in it.
lanxa wena wawuyindoda elamandla, ulepulazi, indoda ehlonitshwayo, uphila kulo.
9 You have sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.
Abafelokazi wabaxotsha ungabaphanga lutho izintandane waziqeda amandla.
10 Therefore snares [are] all around you, And sudden fear troubles you.
Kungenxa yalokho usuhanqwe yimijibila, usuhlukuluzwa luhlupho masinyane,
11 Or darkness—you do not see, And abundance of waters covers you.
yikho kumnyama kangaka ungasaboni, njalo yikho ususibekelwa zimpophoma zamanzi.
12 Is God not high [in] the heavens? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high.
UNkulunkulu kakho esiqongweni samazulu na? Ake ubone phela ukuthi ziphakeme njani izinkanyezi ezisesiqongweni!
13 And you have said, How has God known? Does He judge through thickness?
Kodwa wena uthi, ‘UNkulunkulu wazini? Angahlulela phakathi komnyama onje?
14 Thick clouds [are] a secret place to Him, And He does not see, And He habitually walks [above] the circle of the heavens.
Usithwe ngamayezi amakhulu, ngakho kasiboni nxa ehambahamba ezulwini eliphezulu.’
15 Do you observe the path of the age, That men of iniquity have trodden,
Wena-ke uzakwalela endleleni endala na eseyahanjwa ngababi?
16 Who have been cut down unexpectedly? A flood is poured out on their foundation.
Bedluliswa singakafiki isikhathi sabo, izisekelo zabo zakhukhulwa nguzamcolo.
17 Those saying to God, Turn aside from us, And what does the Mighty One do to them?
Bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! USomandla angasenzani na?’
18 And He has filled their houses [with] good (And the counsel of the wicked Has been far from me).
Ikanti kunguye owagcwalisa izindlu zabo ngezinto ezinhle, ngakho kangingeni ezelulekweni zababi.
19 The righteous see and they rejoice, And the innocent mocks at them:
Abalungileyo bayakubona lokho bathokoze; abangelacala bayabahleka bathi,
20 Surely our substance has not been cut off, And fire has consumed their excellence.
‘Ngempela izitha zethu zichithiwe, lokuseleyo kwenotho yazo sekubhuqwe ngumlilo.’
21 Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace, Thereby your increase [is] good.
Zehlise kuNkulunkulu ukuze uwelelane laye; ngaleyondlela ukuphumelela kuzakuza kuwe.
22 Please receive a law from His mouth, And set His sayings in your heart.
Yamukela iziqondiso eziphuma emlonyeni wakhe, amazwi akhe uwabeke enhliziyweni yakho.
23 If you return to the Mighty you are built up, You put iniquity far from your tents.
Nxa ubuyela kuSomandla, uzavuselelwa; nxa ususa ububi bube kude lethente lakho
24 So as to set a defense on the dust, And a covering on a rock of the valleys.
lomthuso wakho uwulahlele othulini, igolide lakho lase-Ofiri ulilahlele emadwaleni ezifuleni,
25 And the Mighty has been your defense, And silver [is] strength to you.
lapho-ke uSomandla uzakuba ligolide lakho, lesiliva esikhethekileyo kuwe.
26 For then you delight yourself on the Mighty, And lift up your face to God,
Ngempela uzazuza ukuthokoza kuSomandla uphakamisele ubuso bakho kuNkulunkulu.
27 You make supplication to Him, And He hears you, And you complete your vows.
Uzakhuleka kuye, yena akuzwe, njalo uzagcwalisa izifungo zakho.
28 And you decree a saying, And it is established to you, And light has shone on your ways.
Lokho okumisileyo kuzakwenziwa, lokukhanya kuzazikhanyisa izindlela zakho.
29 For they have made low, And you say, Lift up. And He saves the bowed down of eyes.
Nxa abantu besehliswa ubususithi, ‘Baphakamiseni!’ lapho-ke uzabasiza abahlulukelweyo.
30 He delivers the one [who is] not innocent, Indeed, he has been delivered By the cleanness of your hands.”
Uzabasiza lalabo abonayo, abazakhululwa ngenxa yokubamsulwa kwakho.”
